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Top 5 Data Science Certifications That Will Pay Off in Your Career

on June 28, 2019 in IT Candidates

 

Data science is one of the hottest fields in tech. Data scientists are in high demand and there are simply not enough qualified professionals in the market, which has led to skyrocketing salaries as employers compete for talent. If you are looking to break into the field or move up the data science ladder, here are five certifications that will pay off in your career.

IBM Watson IoT Data Science Certificate

This certification is for people who are already working in data science and focuses on more advanced skills. The prerequisites for this certification include coding experience (Python preferred), and math skills that include linear algebra. Classes are taught through Coursera, which requires a $49 monthly subscription. However, Coursera classes are self-paced so pros can go as fast or as slow as they need and the certification never expires.

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

People who are new to data analytics can start with the entry-level Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP) exam to lay a solid foundation and then move on to the CAP certification program. This certification is focused on transforming complex data into valuable insights and actions – the heart of data science. CAP is a vendor-neutral certification which makes it highly portable. The cost is around $700 unless you are a member of INFORMS – members pay $500. The exam must be taken in-person at a designated testing center and certifications are valid for three years.

Cloudera Certified Associate: Data Analyst

Businesses that run Cloudera enterprise software want to hire people who can prove they are experts in the system. This certification demonstrates foundational knowledge as a developer, data analyst and Cloudera administrator. This is a great certification for people making a new move into data science. The cost of the exam is around $300 and is valid for two years.

Data Science Council of America (DASCA)

According to the DASCA website, their Data Scientist certification covers “credentialing requirements of senior, accomplished professionals who specialize in managing and leading Big Data strategies and programs for organizations.” The certification track includes paths for earning a Senior Data Scientist cert (SDS) and the more advanced Principal Data Scientist (PDS) credentials. You must have six or more years of data analytics or engineering experience to take the SDS exam and ten years of experience for the PDS exam.

Microsoft Professional Program in Data Science

The Microsoft Professional Program in Data Science focuses on eight critical skills: T-SQL, Microsoft Excel, PowerBI, Python, R, Azure Machine Learning, HDInsight and Spark. Courses are three months long and begin each quarter, but learning is self-paced online. Courses must be purchased through EdX, though some materials are free. This certification does not expire.

Ready to Advance Your Data Science Career?

If you are a tech pro looking for new data science career opportunities, we invite you to contact the expert recruiters at PEAK Technical Consulting today. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals.